Key-operated foot-measuring device



Sept. 1931- G. ENGELHARDT ET AL KEY OPERATED FOOT MEASURING DEVICE Filed Nov. 23, 1929 3 Sheets-Sheet l d Ii d I ll? MFIL llll l llulllllllllllllllllllllllll Sept. 15, 1931. e. ENGELHARDT ET AL 3,

KEY OPERATED FOOT MEASURING DEVICE Filed Nov. 25, 1929 s Sheets-Sheet 2 i Patented Sept. 15, 1931 PATENTFOFFICE GEORG ENGELHAlR-DT, F GASSEL-WILHELMSHOHE, AND HANS GEORG SIEBENEICHNER,

OF LEIPZIG, GERMANY, ASSIGNORS TO THE FIRTE G. ENGELI-IARDT 00.,

CHASALLA.-SCHUHFABRIK A.-G., OF CASSEL GERMANY KEY-OPERATED FOOT-MEASURING DEVICE Application filed November 23, 1929, Serial life. 409,252, and in Germany December 29, 1927.

Foot-measuring appliances of various constructions are already known, in whichthe foot measurements are ascertained by placing the foot upon the surface of the device. These constructions are not limited to determining the length of the foot but alsorender it possible to determine the positions of the various toes and the deviations of the inner line of the foot between the big toe and the heel from the straight, which occur owing to the formation of thick big toe balls in front of and behind the ball point.

All the earlier constructions required various manual operations and movements for retaining the dimensions ascertained, Ow

ing to this dependence of the apparatus upon various manual movements, inaccurate determinations frequently .arise even with 20 apparatus that works correctly. These mistakes are of far-reaching importance, particularly in cases when shoes are to be made or selected according to the foot measurements obtained, because such shoes will not fit owing to the manual errors.

The present invention removes every risk of error, owing to the fact that the appliance itself renders the movements formerly executed by hand superfluous. The new keyoperated foot-measuring appliance is not limited merely to determining the length by the aid of an arrangement of keys resem-' bling a keyboard but the toe line and heel line rades can also be accurately determined thereby, with the ball of the big toe as a o common starting point.

In the caseof a healthy normal foot, the big toe, ball and heel side line runs perfectly straight. In the case of malformation of the foot, this straight foot line is broken at the apex of the big toe, that is to say, the big toe appears to be forced out of place in the direction of the little toe, or the heel line alignment shows this deflection. All these deviations are retained automatically by the pressure of the foot upon the keyboard of the device. The dimensions remain after the removal of the foot, and are only obliterated subsequently by depressing a lever.

In the accompanying drawings, the length keyboard is illustrated in one constructional example, and thekeyboard for ascertaining the deviation of the big toe from the straight marginal line of the foot is illustrated in two constructional examples,

Figure 1 being a plan of a key-operated foot-measuring appliance constructed according to the invention, I

Figure 2 is a longitudinal section on the line AB in Fig. 1, through the foot length keyboard,

Figure 3 is a cross section on the line CD in Fig. 1, through the foot length keyboard, v

Figure t is a cross section on the line E--F in Fig. 1, through the foot length keyboard, the arresting rails being displaced laterally,

Figure 5 is'a cross section on the line EF in Fig. 1, through the foot length keyboard withthemeasuring keys arrested,

Figure 6 is a longitudinal section on the line G-H in Fig. 1, through the keyboard of the toe graduation,

Figure 7 is a longitudinal section on the line J-K in Fig. 1, through the keyboard for the heel position, and a partial side View of the measuring box and ball gripper beside the toe. rest. I

The measuring devices are according to the drawings fitted into a box-shaped frame 1,

in the cover plate 1c of which a rectangular aperture for the length measuring keys 2 is provided. The aperture is internally framed all round by angle bars 3, by which the measuring keys as a whole are held securely in position.

The aperture is closed. at the top by cover stripsc, which surround the measuring keys, such as 17 to 48,- which are provided for the footlengths. i

'In the interior of the frame 1 is fitted in the longitudinal direction a strong double frame 5, which is screwedby its four'ends 5a to the inside of the end surfaces 1?) and of the frame '1.

,In the upstanding part of the double frame are provided to left and right, at exactly equal distances in proportion to the thicknesses of the measuring keys, cylindrical bores in which the round pins 2a of the measuring keys are guided, as shown in Figs. 3, 4 and 5. g

The upper parts of the measuring keys, which correspond in their thickness to a gauge, project uniformly out ofthe aperture in' the cover plate 1a, as shown in Figs. 2, 3 and 4. The keys are upheld in this position by compression springs 6 and arrested by stops 26 (Figs. .2 and 3) on the angle bars 3.

As a lock for the compression springs the screws 7 are provided.

In the middle of the double frame 5 there is a shaft 8 which extends throughout the entire length of the framefand which is supported in the end surfaces 1?) and 10 of the frame 1 and in two similarly shaped transverse ribs 56 of the double frame 5, as shown in Figs. 2 and 3, the rear transverse rib being shown in F 2, and the front transverse rib in Fig. 3.

Upon the shaft 8 are mounted two fixed discs 80; and SZ), which are 'pivotally connected by pairs of levers 9a, 9b, 9c and 9d with two long arresting bars 10a and 10?).

By depressing a lever 11, which is mounted upon the front end of the shaft 8 and :pro-

j ects out of the end wall 1b., the two arresting bars can be displaced to left andright,

Before begining to measure the length of the foot, the lever 11 is depressed, as a result of which the arresting bars 10a and 10?) are shifted laterally to left and right, as shown in Fig. 4. The foot is then placed upon the length-measuring keyboard 2, and rests firmly against the angle-like heel stops 1d and 1e. By this means a number of measuring keys exactly equal to the length of the foot is depressed, as shown in-Fig. 5, for i-nstance in the case of a size forty-two foot, as far as the measuring key 42. The keys beyond 43, however, remain intheir upper position. The lever 11 is now released, as a result of which the arresting bars, in con-.

sequence of the action of the spring 13, snap back into their previous position, while the depressed measuring keys from 17 to 42 remain on their stops 2?; in the recess, as shown in Fig. 5. By renewed pressure upon the lever 11, after the measuring, the keys that have been held down are released. The measuring key, lever, and arresting bar are again located in their normal position,as shown in Fig. '3.

On the left-hand'side of the front of the apparatus (Fig. 1) is shown the first constructional example of the measuring keyboard for ascertaining the deviation of the big toe from the straight marginal foot line by means of a toe graduation. The measuring keyboard consists for example of three keys 15a, 15b and 150 for the degrees 4, 6 and 8, which in their normal position like wise projectout of the cover plate, as shown in Figure 6. The keys are hinged at 16 to the cover plate 1a, and have each a spring action 17, which press the keys upwards asfar as the stop surface 18 of the hinge permits.

The apex of the degree keys is located at 19 at the ball of the big toe. For each key there is also provided an arresting device 20a, 20?), 200 fitted to the end surface 16, the resilient pins of which, when the degree keys are depressed,snap into corresponding recesses 21 (Figs. 1 and 6), which are provided in the degree keys, and thereby hold the latter fast.

When measuring the toe degrees, the size ofthe foot ascertained by the length keys is preferably adjustedupon the lateral scale of lengths 22, which has 'a definite relation ship to the length keys, by means of a slidable pointer 23. The foot is then placed upon the device, the heel bearing against an angle plate 24'connected with the pointer, and the ball of the big toe resting in a ball gripper 25, which fits snugly to the shape of the ball. 1

The big toe will then depress one :or more degree'keys, which are thenheld fast in the recesses 21 by the action of the spring device 20a, 20?), 200. if for instance the degree keys '8 and 6 are depressed, the degree key 6 is the determining factor for the mag nitude of the toe degree.

After the measuring, the spring pins of the spring device 20a, 202) or 200 are drawn back, whereupon the degree keys spring up and re-assume their normal positions.

A second constructional example for as certaining the deviation of the big toe from the straight marginal foot line is illustrated in Figs. 7 and 8, the measurement being in this case made by determining the heel position. For tiis purpose a measuring keyboard similar to the toe degree measuring device is provided at the rear left-hand side of the appliance.

This measuring of the heel position may advantageously be employed wherever owing to curvature or malformation of the big toe a measurement with the toe degree keys is not possible. Furthermore the measur ing of the heel position may serve as a check for the toe degree measurement, sincebot'h constructions admit of being applier to one and the same appliance, besides the length keyboard, as shown in Figure 1.

For the measuring of the heel position, three measuring keys 155d, 1550 and 15f for example are again provided, which serve per 25a.

For each degree key, exactly as in the case of the toe degree measuring device, anarresting device 2045, c, 20f is fitted to the end 10, the resilient pins of which, when the degree keys are depresed, snap into a corresponding recess 21a, in the degree keys and thereby hold the latter fast.

lVhcn measuring the toe degree angle by meas of the heel position, the ball of the big toe, with the heel somewhat raised, is so placed in the ball gripper 25a, that the ball lits snugly to the shape of the ball gripper, and the big toe bears in its length on the bearing bar 25?), which is connected with the ball gripper. The heel is then lowered, during which it depresses one or more of the degree keys, which are then held fast by the spring device 20d, 20c, 20; in the recesses nla.

If for example the degree keys 8 and 6 are depressed, here again the degree key 6 is the determining factor for the magnitude of the degree.

After the measurement the spring pins of the spring device 2005, 206 or 20f are drawn back, whereu on the degree keys spring up and ire-assume their previous position.

'lhe toe and heel degree keys 15a to 15; are not limited in number and surface shape to the constructional examples illustrated and described. The keyboard radii, as seen from above, may also be constructed as narrow keys or as point keys.

hat we claim is l. A foot-measurin appliance for determining the correct size for shoes, in-soles or other foot-wear, comprising a frame, a row of keys, ach individually movable up and down, mounted in the top of the frame, resilient means tending to keep each key in its upper position, a heel stop so located on the frame that the foot to be measured can rest on the row of keys with the heel bearing against the heel stop, thereby depressing a larger or smaller number of keys according to the length of the foot, means for automatically holding every key depressed even after the foot is removed, and means for releasing at will all the keys that are being held down.

2. A foot-measuring appliance for determining the correct size for shoes, in-soles or other foot-wear, comprising a frame, a row of keys, each individually movable up and down, mounted in the top of the frame, re-

silient means tending to keep each key in its against the heel stop, thereby depressing a larger or smaller number of keys according to the length of the foot, projections on all the keys, bars capable of engaging with the said projections and thereby preventing the ascent of a depressed key, a shaft journalled in the frame and pivotally connected with said bars, said shaft being adapted when rotated through an angle to move the pivoted bars into and out of engagement with the projections on the depressed keys, means for manually rotating the shaft through an angle at will.

3. A foot-measuring appliance as claimed in claim 1, further comprising means for measuring the angular deviations from the straight marginal line of the foot, these further means comprising a group of big toe angle measuring keys each individually movable up and down, mounted in the top of the frame, resilient means tending to keep each of the toe angle measuring keys in its upper position, a heel stop so mounted in the frame as to be adjustable to various distances from the toe angle measuring keys according to the length of the foot to be measured, a ball gripper for holding the ball of the foot in position durin the measurement of the toe angle, means for automatically holding down every angle measuring key depressed even after the foot is removed, and means for releasing at will the angle keys that are being held down. A 4. A foot-measuring appliance as claimed in claim 1, further comprising means for measuring the angular deviations from the straight marginal line of the foot, these further means comprising a group of heel pressure keys each individually movable up and down, mounted in the top of the frame, resilient means tending to keep each of the heel pressure measuring keys in its upper position, a lateral stop mounted on the frame for the big toe, a ball gripper for holding the ball of the foot in position during the mea urement of the angle, means for automatically holding down every angle measuring key depressed even after the foot is removed, and means for releasing at will the angle keys that are bein held down.

In testimony whereof we have signed our names to this specification.

GEORG- ENil-ELHARDT. HANS G-EORG SIEBENEICHNER. 

